1. Battle of Falkirk 1298 In the spring of 1298 Edward...
Arrived back in England from France (March)
Moved his headquarters to York
Summoned a massive army to assemble at Roxburgh on 25 June
Roxburgh
York

2. Edward joined his army in early July Scorched Earth Policy
Edward’s Army
Consisted of
2000 cavalry
12,000 infantry (10,000 of which were Irish or Welsh)
Edward joined his army in early July
Scorched Earth Policy
As the English marched north the Scots burnt and destroyed the countryside
Why?
To stop them finding any food or shelter

3. Problems for Edward....
English army was running out of supplies and near starvation
He issued them with wine to boost morale
Welsh troops got drunk, fought with English soldiers and several were killed
The Welsh threatened to join the Scots
Then the supply ships arrived and the Welsh rejoined the army

4. The Night before the Battle
The Scots were only 13 miles away at Falkirk
The English slept in full armour
Edward slept on the ground like his men
During the night his horse trod on him breaking a rib, but this would not stop him leading his troops into battle

5. Wallace’s Plan Wallace knew the force of the English cavalry
His plan was to deliberately avoid making contact with the enemy
His plan involved
drawing the English on
stretching out their supply lines to cause hunger and internal strife
He very nearly succeeded

6. The Scots army 6000 footsoldiers equipped with long spears
Small body of archers
500 to 600 knights provided by the nobles
Many in the Scottish army demanded that they stand and fight
Wallace, whose authority rested on the support of the army had
to give way

7. The Scots Position Scots Army Edward’s Army Callander Wood
Scots knights
Slamman hill
Archers
4 Schiltrons with men in each
Wooden stakes tied with rope
Marshland
Knights
Longbows and crossbows
Edward’s Army

8. Wallace turned to his men…
I have brought you to the ring, hop if you can
As soon as Edward’s army sighted the Scots the English cavalry plunged into the attack

9. English knights divided into 2 halves and went round either side of the marshland to attack the Scots from the sides
Scots Army
Edward’s Army

10. Most of the Scot archers were killed.
Scots Army
Edward’s Army

11. The Scots knights saw this and fled
Scots Army
Edward’s Army

12. English knights charged at the schiltrons but could not break through, many horses were killed

13. Edward brought in his Welsh longbowmen and foreign crossbowmen to fire at the schiltrons

14. Scottish soldiers fell in their hundreds.

15. Edward then ordered his knights to attack the schiltrons again
Edward then ordered his knights to attack the schiltrons again. This time the schiltrons broke and the Scots scattered

16. Hundreds of Scots were killed
Wallace fled the battle with a core of followers into the surrounding woodland